A Guide to the David H. Henkel Papers, 1855, 1861-1864

Comprising correspondence and an
essay, the David H. Henkel Papers, 1855, 1861-1864, document Henkel’s service in
different divisions of the Confederate Army in Virginia and Kentucky during the
Civil War as well as his work as a student at New Market Academy.

Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, David H. Henkel (b. ca. 1839) attended New
Market Academy in 1855 and worked as a miller in New Market. In 1861, he enlisted in
the 19th Virginia Infantry’s Company G of the Confederate Army, later serving as
hospital steward of McIntosh’s Battalion. During the Civil War, Henkel fought in
various battles in Virginia and Kentucky, and in 1864, he married Leanna Printz.

Comprising correspondence and an essay, the David H. Henkel Papers, 1855, 1861-1864,
document Henkel’s service in different divisions of the Confederate Army during the
Civil War as well as his work as a student at New Market Academy. Letters written by
Henkel to his brother Rev. Soc. Henkel and his wife, 1861-1864, discuss the
conditions of military camps and various battles in Virginia and Kentucky, such as
Bowling Green, Fairfax Station, and Shenandoah Valley. Additionally, the collection
contains Henkel’s 1855 one-page essay about Thomas Jefferson, written while
attending New Market Academy.

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe
Center’s “History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project,” 2009-2011.